The James Ranch airstrip on the main Salmon River was treated for noxious weeds.
Airstrip and Private Land Buffer
In 2009, the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness CWMA initiated a weed treatment program on the private and Forest Service airstrips along the main stem Salmon River. Agreements were established with seven private airstrip owners. The agreements provided for contracts to complete the initial weed treatments with the land owners taking responsibility afterwards. These contract efforts were completed in 2009 and 2010. In 2011, emphasis was shifted to the Selway River drainage where four airstrips need assistance. Agreements are currently being developed for the Running Creek and North Star private air strips which have been getting some treatment by the involved owners. Inventory data for the Selway Lodge air strip shows it being clean and having no need for assistance! The Montana Conservation Core assisted with treating the Moose Creek and Shearer Forest Service airstrips in 2011. The Moose Creek air strip had also been treated in 2010 with other funds. Plans include treating all four air strips in 2012 with the remaining funds. Afterwards, they should all be in an maintenance mode.
Back Country New Invaders
The Red River District Recreation crews did not utilize any of the available funds in 2011. Inventory efforts were instead completed in 2011 to help delineate those trails and camp sites most deserving in an attempt to keep the relatively clean weed free areas clean of noxious weeds. Plans to treat those weeds and use the remaining balance on other trails will be emphasized in 2012.
Rachel Winston at the Forest Service Slate Creek yellowstar thistle bio control monitoring transect.
Bio-Control
In 2009, Idaho County Weed Control, in conjunction with the RAC, US Forest Service, USDI BLM, and MIA Consulting, initiated a biocontrol monitoring program to determine the effectiveness of numerous releases that have occurred throughout north central Idaho since 1979. Four weed systems were monitored utilizing the Standardized Impact Monitoring Protocol. These efforts were repeated and expanded in 2010 and 2011. A total of 57 permanent monitoring sites spanning seven weed species were visited throughout the 2011 growing season. For Dalmatian toadflax, insects appear to be contributing alone or in combination with favorable spring weather to the weed’s control at 11 sites, have no impact at two others, and more time is needed to draw conclusions at one final site. In the spotted knapweed system, insects have likely been a major contributor in the weed’s control at one site, they may be slightly effective at another site, and appear to be ineffective at all others, though more time is needed for sites where agents were released as recently as 2009.
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November 22nd, 2011
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The Southwest Idaho RAC funded a project to improve water quality and habitat on Grimes and Granite Creeks. Many miles of both creeks are lined with mine tailings from past dredging operations. The tailings have impinged the creek and limit riparian vegetation. Grimes and Granite Creeks are listed on the Clean Water Act 303(d) list for temperature and sediment. This project addresses both of these impairments through Read more…
McCall, ID - The newest bridge in the Payette National Forest (PNF) spans 80 feet over Big Creek near Edwardsburg, Idaho, a popular entrance to the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness.
The new Big Creek Bridge replaces a drivable ford through Big Creek used by the public and private landowners since the 1920s. Two cranes were trucked in to lift and lower the four bridge components into place.
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As Congress and the Administration wrestle with the reauthorization of the Secure Rural Schools Act, the Forest Service has the following to say:
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The Southwest Idaho RAC recommended some Title II funds be used to improve trails in the Sawtooth Wilderness Area. This recommendation came in the spring of 2011 and the money reached the ground this summer with a trail crew using skill and brawn to improve many trails.
This project funds 159 miles of patrols and deferred trail maintenance/heavy maintenance on trails within Elmore and Boise Counties. The project is needed to address a critical backlog of trail maintenance due to years of fires, wind events, beetle-kill trees and neglect. Forest Service crews, youth crews and volunteer groups have been used to work on the trails but these efforts have barely been able to scratch the surface. In 2010 a large Federal earmark was given to the Sawtooth NRA to address declining trail conditions. Much headway was made; however, many of the trails were in such poor condition (in some burned locations there were up to 400 trees/mile) that progress was slow and many miles of trail are still in need of attention.
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September 26th, 2011
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September 30, 2011 is the deadline for Resource Advisory Committees to complete their recommendations on proposed projects that would use Title II funds to improve National Forest resources.
The Secure Rural Schools law included this deadline as part of the reauthorization in the fall of 2008. RACs will continue to have the authority to meet to monitor the implementation of the projects that use Title II funds.
September 30, 2011 is also the deadline for counties and states to submit their allocations between Titles II and III for the upcoming payment.
September 7th, 2011
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Coeur d’Alene, Idaho (September 7, 2011) – The Idaho Panhandle Resource Advisory Committee (RAC) will meet September 16, 2011 at 9:00 a.m in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, to review and recommend funding for proposed forest projects. The meeting will be held at the Idaho Panhandle National Forests Supervisor’s Office located at 3815 Schreiber Way. The RAC will finalize distribution of approximately $690,000 in funding for natural resource projects to be completed in 2012. Read more…
Two inmates were out splitting and stacking firewood next to the Grangeville Senior Center on Monday, Aug. 29, under supervision of (not pictured) ICSO Deputy Jailer and work program coordinator Rob Agee.
David Rauzi, Editor, Idaho County Free Press – August 31, 2011
GRANGEVILLE — Idaho County Jail inmates are helping with home heating costs for the elderly this winter.
Thanks to $5,827.50 in grant funds through the North Central Idaho Resource Advisory Committee (RAC), the jail, in conjunction with Community Action Partnership (CAP) purchased three logging truckloads of ponderosa pine logs, which are in the process of being cut and split, according to ICSO Chief Jailer Rick Shira.
Two inmates as part of the Idaho County Inmate Worker/Community Service Program started the project at the beginning of the month, according to Shira, “and it will be at least two to three more weeks before they get it all split.”
Credit for the idea goes to Harpster resident Don Morrow (now deceased) who first brought the project concept to the Forest Service, which in turn went to the RAC, according to Nez Perce National Forest public information officer Laura Smith.
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The South Central Idaho RAC meets on Wednesday, August 31 at the regional Idaho Fish and Game office in Jerome. The meeting begins at 9:00 a.m. and is expected to run until about 1:30 p.m. The agenda follows:
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